Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos is on a working visit to Cuba to meet with his Cuban peer, Raul Castro, and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Santos, 60, will talk separately with Raul Castro and Chavez, who is in Havana recovering from surgery.»

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navy Pillay met in Geneva with Adriana Perez, the wife of Gerardo Hernandez, one of the five Cuban antiterrorists “internationally known as the Cuban Five” who were arrested and condemned in the United States more than a decade ago.»

After 15 years as Cuba’s minister of culture, Abel Prieto was appointed as advisor to Cuban President Raul Castro, according to an official communiqué made public by local media. Rafael Bernal, deputy minister of culture since 1997, will replace Abel Prieto.»

Two symposia on therapeutic vaccines against HIV/AIDS and dengue, and a session on genomics will open debates on Monday at the Biotechnology Conference Havana-2012, the inauguration of which will take place at the end of the day.»

With a warm reception from the audience, the XV National Amateur Theatre Festival Olga Alonso ended Sunday in Fomento, Sancti Spiritus, in central Cuba. Two projects shared the Grand Prix of the drama fete attended by six provinces.»

The XXI International Book Fair came to a close in esatern Cuba after 25 days in which printed letters took over major cities, since the opening in Havana on February 9.»

Central Electoral Commission (CEC) Head Vladimir Churov on Monday announced the extra-official result of the presidential elections, in which Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin won 63.75 percent of votes.»

The Conference of Catholic Bishops of Cuba welcomes Pope Benedict XVI, who will visit the Caribbean island on March 26-28. The institution described as good news the Pope’s visit, which has generated a particular enthusiasm in communities and catholic parishes, according to a communique published in Granma newspaper on Friday.»

Members of the Peace Boat, on a visit to Cuba, expressed their satisfaction for the meeting held on Thursday with Commander in Chief Fidel Castro at Havana’s Convention Center.»

A moving letter was sent by Rene Gonzalez, one of the five Cuban heroes, to his brother Roberto, who continues in critical condition in Havana, suffering with cancer. Up next, we bring you the English version of this letter, published by the www.freethefive.org web site:»